Ballyclare Comrades 4

TOBERMORE United put in one of their poorest displays of the season last Saturday and as Ballyclare were in top form the game as a contest was over in the first 20 minutes with the Comrades three goals up.

The game started brightly for Tobermore with some good passing moves but that quickly disappeared as the visitors, with Eddie Hill involved in everything, taking control and putting the home side under constant pressure.

The first goal arrived wit just over 10 minutes on the clock when an unmarked Roberts headed past Hassan.

Bell added a second five minutes later when, again unmarked, he volleyed home from just inside the 18-yard line and the hard working Hill added a third with a superb diving header on 20 minutes to put his side three up and virtually out of sight.

Ballyclare were still looking for more in the second half but Tobermore’s defence was a little more stable, which kept the rampant Comrades at bay.

It was now a more even contest with Tobermore asking some questions of the visitors but it wasn’t to be their day and on 70 minutes a poor clearance from Hassan was pounced on by Mulholland who fired home into an empty net to finish the game.

Tobermore United: Hassan, Walsh, McQuillan, Boyle, Kelly, Young, Owens, Cooke, McLaughlin, Crockett, Docherty. Subs Pattison, McCallum, Lynch. Lamont, Campbell.

Aidy McLaughlin, a very disgruntled Tobermore manager, said: “There is really no explanation for that sort of performance.

“We have four players, three of them defenders, in the current Junior International squad which says something for the way we have played this season.

“But unfortunately we didn’t show it today and were punished by a good Ballyclare team.

“We have very little time to lick our wounds with six games to play before May 10, so we need to rediscover our form very quickly if we are to improve our league position.”

Fixtures

All outstanding fixtures have now been organised as follows: Saturday April 19th v Carrick Ranger (away) Carnegie Irish League Div 1 (ko 3pm)

Saturday April 26th v Lurgan Celtic (home) Carnegie Irish League Div 1 (ko 2.30) (This game may be rearranged due to Tobermore having 4 players on international duty.)

Tuesday April 29th v Bangor (home) Carnegie Irish League Div 1 (ko 6.45)

Saturday May 3rd v Ards (home) Carnegie Irish League Div 1 (ko 12.noon)

Tuesday May 6th v Ards (away) Carnegie Irish League Div 1 (ko 7.45).

Tobermore United Mini Soccer Centre

Tobermore United’s Mini Soccer Centre Sessions continue every Saturday morning at the usual time of 10.00 until 11.00 at Maghera Leisure Centre.

The fun sessions are supervised by qualified coaches and are open to all boys and girls of primary school age.

Players should come along kitted out ready to play with trainers and shin guards essential for one hour of quality coaching and fun games.

For more information call Raymond Beatty on 028 7964 2445.